PML-N chief has also instructed party members not to issue statements against the PTI chief. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is contemplating on an alliance with political parties, including emerging rival Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), for a protest campaign aimed at dislodging the government.

Officials told The Express Tribune on Saturday that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has called a meeting of his party’s top leaders in Islamabad next week to decide when and how to approach Khan and other right-wing and nationalist parties for joining its public agitation campaign against the government.

No schedule has been finalised for the meeting but insiders said it could take place either next Saturday or Sunday, before the National Assembly session commences on November 14.

Sharif, who returned to Pakistan after touring Turkey and Britain for two weeks, is said to be worried about the turnout at PTI’s rally in Lahore last week and wants to move ahead with his political maneuvers as soon as possible.

Sources said that Sharif had ordered party leaders hostile to PTI, including Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, not to issue statements against Imran, in an apparent attempt to prepare grounds for opening negotiations with the former cricket hero.

At the meeting after Eid, which will be attended by members of the party’s central working committee (CWC) as well as the parliamentary board, the PML-N is also likely to decide to open a scrutiny of candidates it wants to field in the general elections. However, one official commented, the top most issue on the meeting’s agenda would be how to tackle the rise of Imran as a political opponent in the urban centres of Punjab – a conventional stronghold and major vote bank of the party.

“Of course, Imran Khan is an important factor in Punjab’s politics now …we cannot ignore him anymore. That’s why Mian Sahib (Nawaz Sharif) doesn’t want to overlook him in future,” the official added.

Although PTI’s October 30 rally in Lahore is said to be the real trigger behind the PML-N’s decision to seek an alliance with rightwing parties in Punjab and nationalist parties in Balochistan, a party spokesperson refused to admit it.

“We were planning it long before Imran rallied in Lahore …we are a political party not stock brokers that we change our decisions with the wind,” said Senator Mushahidullah Khan.

He, however, did not rule out that the party could offer an alliance to Imran Khan or seek one with him.

Last week, Punjab’s Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said in Faisalabad that the PML-N might think of inviting the PTI to join its campaign in order to dislodge the government.

Imran Khan’s reciprocated promptly.

“It is only possible if party leaders including Sharif declare their assets,” the PTI chief told journalists at the Lahore airport before his departure to China.

PML-N leaders said the decision at next week’s meeting would be limited to negotiating an alliance with the PTI on a one-point agenda of cooperation in an anti-government campaign.

Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.This shall Imran Khan’s biggest ever committed mistake if he joined PML-N because PML-N has joined PPPP and then left and this is the most dangerous hypocritical move played by PML-N’s leader Nawaz Sharif and this collaboration between PTI and PML-N shall defame and make incredible and untrustworthy not only Imran Khan but PTI and its movement.Nawaz Sharif is the biggest hypocritical leaders and now he is trying to capture Imran Khan.So please Imran Khan if you want to be popular,honorable,respectable and graceful as you have been shown yourself now-a-days in the eyes of common man and youth then never join PML-N.

There is a saying in Punjabi language “Bunder kitna hi budha kiyon na hojae muger Qalabazi Khana NaheeN Bhoolta”. Now this is the case with PML-N and Double Shahs of Politics. I hope Mr. Imran Khan will not fall in their trap. He should move forward with his campaign and with the passage of time many good politicians from already established parties will join him. Many silent supporters are also waiting for him in other provinces.

@Akbar:
Sure Mr Akbar we people are sold out to PML-N and PPP and are in their pockets and surely we insane, uneducated, misguided and helpless population will once again select PML-N and PPP to rule us! please yaar Wake Up!!!!! I can’t wait to vote in this coming election for PTI and IK and kick out PML-N from Punjab and then I would love to see your face and faces of all PML-N worshipersRecommend

Nawaz Sharif is trying to use old tactics like what he did in the past for Independent of courts ,PTI dont make any kind of allaince with PMLN not only in the election also in any kind of the protest againist govt , they are trying to Hijack PTI , will go for any kind of attempt (alliance , character assasination etc ) . Be carefull PTI and be away from PMLN

I hope Imran Khan will not make any alliance with PML(N), that would indeed be suicidal for PTI & its supporter’s motivation to bring a change. In order to bring a change, we must get rid of old faces.
Imran,
Trust me, you will do excellent in coming elections without doing this absurd alliance with Nawaz Sharif. Don’t do this please !!!

PMLN has been in power off and on since 1980s. Nawaz Sharif was CM Punjab from 1985-90 , I live in Punjab and don’t See any “Doodh and Shehad kee Nehren” in Punjab , Give it Up guys ..You had Enough of power… We had Enough of you..

@PTI Supporter:
But what will be happend that if in next election imran will make alliance with PPP. Imran khan can not win election seprately may be he could win in some parts of Punjab or NWFP but in whole country PPP will be strong if PTI will not make alliance with anyone.

PTI, Minar-e-Pakistan Jalsa has turned the tables. Politicians living in fools paradise has finally realized that People of Pakistan are not fools. People have rejected politics of Status quo and inshallah only truth will prevail. Imran Khan will never compromise with the corrupt politicians. He has full faith in poor people of Pakistan and Almighty Allah

Next election in Pakistan is all about truth based agenda,where we should come out of hanky panky(living on corruption) and borrowing money from world bank,.IMF,from USA on the name of Afghan war and other means.our borrowing now is above $67 billion.In ppp’s 3and half years rule this amount increased sharply.This trend is very worrying.we need election criteria for candidates ,where we should bar those candidates,those that have a bad reputation ie they owe borrowed money to banks or Govt institutions and had criminal record through courts.Recommend